Frequently Asked Questions

DeKalb County School District will hold graduation ceremonies May 28, 2019 through June 2, 2019 at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC), located at 285 Andrew Young International Boulevard, NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30313. The graduation schedule is posted on the DeKalb County School District’s website. You may visit the site by clicking the following link: https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/graduation/schedule/

The graduation ceremony for Margaret Harris Comprehensive School will be held May 17, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the school.

Graduates should arrive two hours prior to the scheduled start time of the graduation ceremony for a final practice and ceremony preparations.

Yes. Air-conditioned buses are offered to all schools for round-trip service to/from the venue. Principals will provide each graduate with a permission slip for parents to complete and return indicating whether or not their child will ride the bus to/from the GWCC. Principals will share transportation pick-up and drop-off times with parents/graduates. School chaperones will ride the buses with the graduates.

The graduation hall (C1) doors will open to parents and family members approximately forty-five (45) minutes prior to each ceremony. All guests will be directed to Hall C2 to a waiting area until the ceremony begins. Early arrival is highly recommended on May 29, 2019 and June 1, 2019 due to scheduled Atlanta United soccer games.

The Georgia World Congress Center has several parking areas at the venue. Please utilize the attached map of the venue to plan your visit.

Parking cost will increase after 1:00 p.m. on May 29, 2019 and June 1, 2019. Using MARTA is highly recommended for the 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. graduation ceremonies on these dates.

No. Open seating is offered at each graduation ceremony on a first-come, first-serve basis for graduates’ families and
guests. Late arrival will impact entry to the ceremony hall. Guests who require special accommodations such as wheelchairs will have reserved seating.

The graduates will recess out of the ceremony hall to West Plaza first, followed by guests upon cue. If your graduate plans to board the bus to return to the high school, the student will go directly to the bus to leave the GWCC immediately following the ceremony.

Graduates will receive diploma covers at the ceremony. Each high school has designated a date and time for graduates to retrieve their diplomas at the local school. Schools will provide additional information prior to the ceremony.

No. A contracted photography company will take a series of photos of each graduate to commemorate this special occasion. Graduates will receive a photo of themselves receiving their diploma cover on stage as part of their graduation package. The photography company will share additional photos of graduates with schools/graduates that will be available for purchase.

Graduates and guests should wear comfortable shoes and travel light. The District will conduct three to four graduation ceremonies daily. The practice room and ceremony hall must be emptied and cleaned immediately after attendees exit the area in order to prepare for the next ceremony. Graduates should enter the ceremony hall free of gear and non-district approved paraphernalia such as medallions, honor cords, ribbons etc.

No. Food is not allowed in the GWCC; however, GWCC will have beverages in the lobby area available for purchase. Graduates are asked to eat a meal prior to the graduation ceremony.

Yes. Each graduation ceremony will be recorded and broadcasted via live stream and Facebook live. The link for viewing the live ceremonies is on the Grad Central website at www.dekalbschoolsga.org/communications/dstv and www.facebook.com/dekalbschoolsga. There is a possibility that attendees in the audience may be recorded during the taping. Graduates may check the Grad Central link after June 14, 2019 at www.dekalbschoolsga.org/graduation or www.youtube.com/dekalbschools to access recorded ceremonies.

  • Planning ahead for an early arrival is essential.
  • GWCC is a large facility with various upgrade projects and other graduation ceremonies taking place simultaneously. Expect a great deal of walking — wear comfortable shoes.
  • All cell phones and electronic devices must be silenced prior to entering the ceremony hall.
  • Travel light. Backpacks are not permitted in the venue or graduation hall.
  • Balloons, noise makers, signs, etc. are not permitted in the venue or graduation hall.
  • All guests attending the ceremony will enter through Hall C2 doors located next to the Hall C3 entry doors to a waiting area until the ceremony begins.
  • Using MARTA is highly recommended for the 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. graduation ceremonies on May 29, 2019 and June 1, 2019 due to scheduled Atlanta United soccer games.
  • There will be a guest waiting area available to accommodate early arrivals.

Other items that will NOT be permitted into the Congress Center are balloons, sized signs, and noisemakers of any kind.

Watch all of the 2020 graduation ceremonies as they happen via the

DeKalb County School District Facebook page or DeKalb Schools TV (DSTV)